Right now, 1.4 million Americans live in nursing homes across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That number is continuing to grow every year as the population in America both increases and ages, placing a greater demand on long term care facilities like nursing homes. This has led to an increase in the number of nursing homes across the country and a demand for even more to come. The push for new nursing homes is not solely due to the increased need, though, as the potential for profit has been a significant motivator for many. Currently, more than 68 percent of all nursing homes are owned in a for-profit manner which can lead to substantial profits for those owning such facilities.
With a significant demand for homes, an increasing annual demand, and the potential for substantial profits, some nursing homes in Illinois and in other states have been operating without patient care as their primary motivator. Financial concerns have led some to cut corners or to operate with low staff levels. Others find their employees overworked and unable to meet the standards of care required as a result. No matter the motivation or the excuse, nothing permits nursing home neglect or abuse and such conduct is always improper.
An incident in Connecticut has many people worried about the care their loved ones in nursing homes receive as a nurse has allegedly admitted to wrongdoing while on the job. Officials have confirmed that a 39-year-old female nurse and former employee of a 190 bed nursing home in Stratford has been arrested and charged with swapping the prescription medications of multiple patients with over-the-counter drugs. In addition to the alleged confession to these crimes, the nurse reportedly admitted that she took the prescription drugs that should have been given to patients and some of those drugs, including oxycodone, Oxycontin, and Diazepam, were found in the woman’s possession as she left work last week.
The former nurse is facing criminal charges related to her actions and is being held at an area hospital after making suicidal comments during an interrogation by authorities.
Doctors prescribe medication to those who need it and failing to provide that medication to the needy can have tremendous consequences. Victims may be forced to suffer excruciating pain, may be at an increased risk for a heart attack or stroke, or may even die if their medications are delayed or skipped. Failing to properly medicate a nursing home patient is just one example of abuse that may happen in a long term care facility and even may occur without the victim’s knowledge of the abuse.
If you suspect that your loved one or your family member has been the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect while in an Illinois facility, the personal injury attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. want to help you. We offer a free case consultation without obligation to all those who call us toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and we provide it 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that you can call whenever is convenient for you. Everything discussed during the consultation will be kept confidential and if we represent your loved one, we will never charge a fee unless we make a recovery in the case.
It can be very difficult to know when nursing home abuse occurs or what signs indicate neglect. If you have any suspicions or if you have questions about a potential claim, call Abels & Annes, P.C. today and let us help you understand your rights and your options for legal relief.
Prior Blog Entry:
Nursing Home Employee Charged with Sexually Assaulting Elderly Patient, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published May 5, 2015.
Resource:
Heath Department investigates Stratford nursing home, by Daniel Tepfer, ctpost.com, published May 13, 2015.